Alternating-current motor.



No. 873,702. PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

E. F. W. ALEXANDERSON. ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1904.

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APPLICATION FILED T11R15, 1904.

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No. 873,702, PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

E. F. w. ALEXANDERSON.

ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB.15, 1904.

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INVEHTORZ No 873,702. I PATENTED DEG.1'7, 1907. E. P. w. ALEXANDERSON.

ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1904.

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\A/TNESSES! v No 873,702. PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

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ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.15, 1904.

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'. ERNST F. W. ALEXANDERSON, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

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' Specification 62 Letters Patent.

ti e Dec. 17, 1907.

Application filed. February 15. 1904- Serial No. 198-512.

-To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNs'r F. W. ALEXAN- DERSON, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefuilmprovements in Alternating-Current Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to alternating current motors, and one ofits ob'ects is to pro vide a novel form of motor which shall be capable of synchronous operation at a plural- 1ty of speeds, and another of its objects is to provide such a motor which shall be able to start from rest under load, to pass under load from one synchronous speed to another, and to assume automatically the characteristics of a synchronous motor at each of its speeds.

Synchronous motors have been designed heretofore that would start from rest and automatically fall into synchronism, but sincethe requirements of design for a synchronous motor are different from those of a I self-starting motor, such machines hereto- 1" ore have been very inefiicient'either at starting or at full speed. Motors designed for efficient operation at s chronism have possessed so little startlng torque that it has been necessary to start themwithout load. On the other hand, attempts to give the motor a good starting'torque have reduced the efficiency atsynchronism.

One feature .of my invention consists in suitabl [altering the motor connections so as to pro uce at starting of the'motor for agoo starting torque and to obtain the different characteristics essential for efiicient operation 'at synchronism. Since, at starting, the motor operates as an induction motor, the field not being ener gized, the armature flux must provide the entire c'ounter-electromotive force necessary,

and consequently theimpressed voltage r' turn of the armature winding should be see than at synchronisrnwhen the counter-electromotive force is supplied by the direct cur-' rent field flux. I rovide means for varying the impressed voltage per armature turn without using a transformer by varying in a simple manner the relative connections of the armature coils.

Another feature of my invention consists in the arrangement whereby a lurality of synchronous speeds are obtain (l by means constant while the number of p groper characteristics of simple alterations in the motor connections. Arrangements have been devised heretofore for varying in specific ratios the speeds of asynchronous motors by varying t e number of poles. Such arrangements are described in United States Patent No. 606,056, granted June 21, 1898, to Hassler, and No. 725,415, anted Apr. 14,- 1903, to Dahl-ander and Llndstrom. But these arrangements show means for obtaining specific speed ratios only, and only in asynchronous motors. In my a plication for United States Letters Patent, er. No. 166,675, filed July 23, 1903, I have described a eneral method for Varying the number of po es of an motor winding whereby any desired speed ratios me be obtained. By my present invention rovide a construction of both members o a motor adapted to the application of my former inventlon and thereby provide a synchronous motor capable of operation at a plurality of speeds.

Another feature of my inventionconsists in varying the motor connections to meet the varying re uirements of efficient ogseration as the num er of poles is altered. ith a constant im ressed voltage per coil of the armature winding, the flux per pole remains 0 es is varied. For instance, if the number of poles is done bled, the total flux must be doubled, since each conductor must produce the same counter-electromotive force as before, and

consequently each polemust have the same fluxas before and this means that the magnetic density is doubled. To produce the .same flux each pole must consequently have twice as many ampere turns as before, and since thenumber of conductors per poleis reduced one-half, the current per conductor must be quadrupled. That is, the exciting current varies with the square of the number of poles. To avoid the necessity forfthis great variation in exciting current and consequent inefficiency, I rovide means for varying the impressed vo tags or coil of the armature windingas the num er of poles is varied, thereby securing efficient magnetic conditions for allvalues of the number of poles.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

. which Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a motor arranged in accordance with my invention, together with circuit connections and a controlling switch therefor adapted to provide three synchronous speeds and to control the motor, in starting from rest under load, and in passing from one synchronous speed to another. Fig. 2 shows a development on a plane surface of the field winding of amotor constructed in accordance with my invention. Figs. 1 to 15 inclusive, show diagrammatically the circuit connections produced by the controlling switch in Fig. 1 in its ositions 1 to 15 respectively.

eferring first to Fig. 1, A represents the armature of a motor constructed in accordance with my invention. I have indicated diagrammatically a three-phase winding by means of three rectangles A, A A displaced from each other as shown. F represents the field windin which I have shown as a rectangle forme by the four coils or circuits F F F, F. The form of winding which I have thus indicated by a rectangle is the form described in my former application, Serial No. 166,676, filed July 23, 1903, which has been mentioned heretofore. This type of winding is fully explained in the above specification, but I have provided an illustration of this winding in Fi 2, and will" give a short explanation of 1t here. The winding in Fig. 2 shows a develo ment on a lane surface of the field winding of Fig. 1. ince each base of the armature winding A is arrange similarly to the field winding, Fig. 2 will also serve as an illustration of each phase of the armature winding.

. If a distributed winding of any type be considered, as for instance, the winding of a drum armature, it will be evident, regardless of the number of poles, that the current in half of the conductors on the surface of the armature is flowing in one direction, while the current in the remaining half is flowing in the opposite direction; Furthermore, the current in the conductors on one side of the center of a pole is in one direction, while the current in the conductors on the other side of the center of the-pole is in the other direction. In other words the position of a pole is determined 'by a point on the winding where the current in adjacent conductors is in o posite directions. Thus, in a bi-polar win 'ng the current in all the conductors within a semi-circumference is in one direction, while the current in all conductors within the other semi-circumference is in the other direction; there being consequently only two points on the circumference where the current in adjacent conductors is in opposite directions. In a fourole fwinding there will be four points on t e circumference where the current in adjacent conductors is in opposite directions,-that is, all the conductors embraced within an arc of 90 degrees will betraversed by currents in the same direction, while the conductors within 90 degree arcs, on either side, will be traversed by currents in the opposite direction.

It is evident from the above that the number of poles produced by the distributed winding may be varied by varying the direction of the current through properly selected conductors. In my former application, above mentioned, I have shown how this ma be accomplished in a simple manner wit out using av great number of terminal connections.

The method may be shortly described as follows. If a winding with a certain number of conductors be given, the position and number of poles may be selected arbitrarily, and the desired direction of current in each of the conductors thereby determined. If now, other polar numbers be selected, according to the speed ratio desired and the proper direction of current in each conductor determined for each pole number, it will be found that in some conductors the current is in the same direction for all the selected values of pole numbers. In each conductor of another set the current will vary in the same manner for the various numbers of poles. In each conductor of still another set the current will vary in a still different manner for the different numbers of oles, but the variationwill be the same in eac conductor of the set. Accordingly, when the conductors are thus portioned off into groups, each oup containing those conductors in which t e current varies in the same manner throu hout the variations in the number of oles, a l the conductors in each group may e connected in series and the terminal connections of the several groups groperly varied to vary the number of poles.

y this means the necessity for bringing the terminals of each conductor or coil to a controlling switchis avoided, and the variation J I of the number of poles may be accom lished in a simple manner. Thus, in Fig. 2, shown twenty-four conductors connected in .four groups of six conductors each. One

group is indicated by the letter F, another group by the letter F, etc. Furthermore, the grou sare permanently connected together, t e group F having one terminal connected to the grou F, and the other terminal t0 the group This connection is indicated dia ammatically in Fig. 1 by the rectangle. I the terminal (1, connected to the junction of group F and group F be connected to one terminal of a source of current,

and if the terminal d, which is connected to have the junction of groups F and F be connected to the other termina of the source of current, it will be found by tracing out the currentflow in the conductors that six poles are produced b the winding, whereas, if terminals 11 and which are connected respectivel to the junction of groups F and F, and 1 and F, are connected to the source of ourin the connections of each winding rent, twelve poles will be produced. By con necting terminals (1 and d to ether and to one terminal of the source, w 'le d and d are connected together andto the other 'terminal, eight poles are produced. Thus, by a simple variation in connections, four, six, or eight poles may be produced by this winding, and only four slip rings are needed for the various circuit connections.

Since each rectan le of armature A indicates a similar winding, similar variations hase of the armature roduce similar variations in the number 0 poles. Referring now to Fi 1, it will be 'seen that when the controlling switch is moved into its first position indicated by dotted line 1, current will pass from line-wire a to rectangle A through the entire rectangle. Here the current divides, part passin wire a", an part through rectangle A to line-wires. Thus the three phases of the armature are connected in Y, as shown in Fig. 1*. In position 1 of the controller C, none of the controller fingers d etc., connected to the field F are in engagement with any of the movable contacts of the controller.

The field windin F is consequently merely short-circuited t rough the resistance T, which maybe permanently connected to the contact fingers. This connection is also shown in Fig. 1 The field acts as ,the secondary of an induction motor, starts from rest, and runs up to a speed depending upon the desi of the motor windings, and upon the va ue of the resistance r. In order to im rove the startin torque I provide, in'ad ition to the win ing F a shortcircuited squirrel-cage winding, which is indicated in Fig. 2 by E. This winding E may be placed in the same slots with the or in different slots, as shown in Fi 2. This short-circuited winding not on y increases the starting torque of the motor, but also acts to prevent hunting when the motor is operating synchronously, and thereby assists to maintain the motor in synchronism. As the controlling switch 0, in Fig. 1, is moved to its second position, as indicated by dotted line 2, the circuits of the armature are not altered, but the contact fingers connected to field windingF come into engagement with the movable contacts.

The connections of the field circuit are indicatedin Fig.2", and may be traced from the arrangement of the controller contacts in Fig. 1. n this position of the controller the winding F is short-circuited through a portion of the resistance R. Resistance R acts as a shunt to the resistance 1- (shown in Fi 1 and is omitted in the follow figuresi and thereby increases the speed o i fi'ie motor,

diminishing its slip. As the controller passes to positions 3 and 4, the only change that takes place is the' decr'ease of the portion of through rectangle A. to line-- resistance R connected to winding F. At

nearly short-circuited as shown in Fig. 4 In this position the motor operates at a speed nearly up to synchronism. When the controller is moved to position 5, the field winding F is connected to the source of exciting current f f as indicated in 5", as will be seen from an inspection of the controller contacts of Fig. 1. The motor then automatically slips into synchronism, and, if the controller were left on this position, would operate continuously at its lowestsynchronous speed. As has already been stated, however, the motor would not pos sess thehighest efficiency, since the impressed voltage per coil of the armature is now too low for efficient operation, since the counter electromotive force is now supplied by the direct current field flux. Consequently in order to increase the impressed voltage per turn of the armature I provide the position 6 of the controller, in which the phases of the armature are shifted from Y connection to delta connection, as will be seen from an inspection of the controller contacts, and as is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6 At the same time, more of the resistance in series with the field is cut out, thereby impressing nearly the full voltage of the source upon the field winding. This is the final arrangement for the lowest synchronous speed. In order to pass to the next higher synchronous speed, the controller is shifted to position 7. In this position the arrangement of the armature connections is as indicated in Fig. 7*. It will be seen that each phase of the armature has its halves connected in parallel instead of series, and the phases are again connected in Y. This connection of the halves,

of each phase in parallel corresponds to the connection that has already been described with reference to Fig. 2, whereby terminals (2 and d are connected to ether and to one terminal of the source, w ile terminals d and d were connected together and to the It will be other terminal of the source. remembered that'by this arran ement, the number of poles was decreased om twelve to eight. Since each phase of the armature winding is arranged in 'the same manner as the winding shown in Fig. 2 by means of the changes indicated in Fig. 7", the' number of poles of the armature is changed from twelve to eight, and the synchronous speed correspondingly increased.

Furthermore, it has already been explainedthat when the number. of poles is decreased,

in order to secure pro er operation, the imressed-voltag'e er coi ofthearmatureshould he increased. his also is accomplished by the change indicated in Fig. 7". The unpressed voltage per coil is now twice the value in the arrangement of Fig. 1". The field winding F is again disconnected from the source of excitation, and is short circuited' through the resistance r. The motor speeds on acoountof the decrease of the number n oi poles of the armature, and the controller is shifted to positions 8 and 9 to further increase the speed. At position 10 the field F is again connectedto the source of excitation with a resistance in series, and it will be noticed that the same change has been made in the terminal connections of the field winding that has been made in the armature. Consequently the number of poles of the field winding is also decreased from twelve to eight, and is of the proper number for synchronous operation; In position 1 1 the armature winding is again changed from Y to delta connection for the purpose that has been ex lained, and the resistance in series with the eld is nearly all cut out. Thisposition of the controller is the final position with the second synchronous speed of the motor. T 0 increase the speed of the motor to its highest value, the controller is moved to position 12 The armature is again connected in Y, but the points of con nection to the several phases are varied as will be seen from an inspection of the controller contacts, and as is indicated in Fig. 12 By this variation thenumber of poles is reducedfirorn eight to sixby the method that has already been explained. The field winding is again left shortcircuited through resistances, and the speedof the motor increases. In position 13. the short-circuiting resistance'is again diminished. In position 14 the field is connected to the source of current with a resistance in's'eries, and at this point slips into its highest synchronous speed. This time terminals d and d are connected to the source ofxfurrent, thereby producing six field poles, as has already been explained. In position 15 the armature is again connected in delta in order to increase the efficiency of operation of the motor, ashas been heretofore explained, and theresistance of'the field is decreased. By comparing Figs. 6 to 15*, it

will be seen that the voltageimpr'essed upon each armature circuit is twice as great in Fig. 15 as in Fig. 6 Consequently, the exciting current in each armature circuit, if the number of poles were the same, would be twice as great in Fig. 15 as in'Fig. 6. Furthermore, there are twice as many armature circuits in Fig. '15 Consequently the. total exciting current would be four times greater in the arrangement of Fig. 15 than in Fi 6*. But Fig. 15 corresponds to a six-p0 e arrangement, while Fig. 6 corresponds to a twelvepole arrangement: that is, the number of poles has been reducedone-half, which with the sameimpressed voltage percoil wouldreduce the exciting current to one-fourth its former value. Consequently the variationin number of poles is balanced by the change in connections and this is exactly the arrangement that is desirable in order to secure most cies. Moreover, that feature of my efficient magnetic conditions of the motor,

sincethe total flux of themotoris the same in both cases.

In order to avoid further com lication in the circuits, the arrangement of ig.15 was reached in position 11 of the controller as regards the armature circuit. Consequently,

'the magnetic conditions at position 11 are not exactly the same as at positions 6. and

15 but there is notsufiicient variation to interfere with the efliciency of themotor or to warrant further complication of the circuits in order to produce exact similarity in the magnetic conditions. The difference in the.

amount of excitingcurrent re uired is taken care of by the connections oft e'field circuit in Fig. 11 It will be seenthat nearly the total voltage of the source is im ressed upon each of the four circuits of the eld winding,

while in Fi 15 a little less than half the voltage of t e source isimpressed upon-each field winding circuit, sincea. resistance is left in series with the field circuit. The resist= ances left in series with the field in the two cases are proportioned to give the citing current in each case.

The resistance r,'which is shown inFi' -1 and in Figs. 1*, 7 and 12 is referabl eft proper ex permanently connected to the eld win ings,

as shown in Fig. 1. This resistance acts as a discharge resistance for the field, and it designed with pro er value to act as starting resistance for t e first position of the controller it willQbe of a sufficiently high value to produce onIya negligible loss during synchronous o eration. V

Althoug have shown in the development only onein Figfl I have indicated the motor windings diagrammatically for the sake of simplicity, and although in Fig. 2 I

conductor per slot, it will be understood that any well known form of winding having any desirednumber of conductors in a slot may be employed, and the conductors connected in proper groups, according to my invention. Furthermore, many variations may be made in the arrangement of the controlling switch,

which may be used together or separately in machines designed for various purposes.

For instance by the use of my invention for varying the number of poles of both the armature and field winding, such a'machine as I have described may be employed as an alternating currentgenerator, and when driven atconstant speed will be capable of enerating alternating current at variable equeninvention which relates to varying the impressed voltage per turn of the armature winding may be used with advantage on an synchronous motor designed to start om rest, whether such motor has more than one synchronous speed or not. Also, that feature of my invention which relates to varying the impressed voltage er turn of the motor windin as the num r of poles is varied, is applies le to any alternating current motor, w ether of the synchronous or of the nonsynchronous type. Accordingly, I do not desire to limit myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts here shown, since changes which do not de rt from the spirit of my invention, and-w 'ch are within the scope of the appended claims, will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: 1. In combination a dynamo-electric machine having a distributed winding on each' member, the conductors of each winding being permanently connected in groups, an external circuit connected to each windin and means for varying the number of po es of both members.

2. In combination, a dynamo-electricmachine having distributed armature and field windings, the conductors of each winding being connected in groups, an external circuit connected to each wmding, and means for varying the relative connections of said groups to said external circuits without disdirect-current circuit connected to the turbmg the connections between said groups.

3. In combination, a synchronous dynamoelectric machine having one or more distributed windings on each member, all the conductors of each winding being permanently connected in series, an alternating-current circuit connected to the armature windin ,lg.

, winding, and means for varying the number having distributed windings 59 of poles of each winding by varying the points of connection of said circuits to said windings.

4. In combination, a synchronous motor for operation with diflerent pole numbers on both members, a source of alternating-current for the armature windin asource of direct-current for the field win ing, means for varyin'g the number of poles of both windings, and means for connecting ortions of the armature winding in series an in parallel to the alternatingcurrent source.

5. In combination, a synchronous motor 4 for operation with different pole numbers having distributed windings on both members, a' source of alternating-current for the armature a source of direct-current for the field win ing, means for varying the number of polesof both windings, and means 'for varying the connectionsof the armature 7. In combination, a synchronous motor,

a source of alternatingcurrent connected to the armature thereof, means for short-circuiting the field winding at starting, means for connecting said field winding to a source of direct current at synchronism, and means for var g the relative connections of portions 0 the armature windin to the source.

8. In combination, a sync onous motor, a source of alternating current connected to the armature thereof, means for short-circuiting the field winding at starting, means for connecting said field winding to a source of direct current at synchronism, and means for varying the connections of the armature winding to vary the impressed voltage per turn of the armature windin 9. In combination, a sync ronous motor designed for starting as an induction motor, and means for varying the,connections of the armature to vary the impressed voltage per turn of. the armature winding.

10. In combination, a three-phase synchronous motor desi nod for starting as an induction motor, an means for connecting the hases in Y at starting and in delta at sync onism. i

11. In combination, three-phase synchronous motor, a source of three-phase current for the armature, a source of direct current for the field, and a switch adaptedto connect the armature in Y to the three-phase sourceand to short-circuit the field at starting, and then to connect the field to the direct current source and to change the armature connections to delta.

12. In combination, a three-phase synchronous motor, a source of threebase current for the armature, a source of 'rect current for the field, a resistance, and a switch adapted to connect the armature in Y to the threehase source and to short-circuit the field t ough the resistance at starting, then to out out said resistance, and then to connect the field to the direct current source and to change the armature connections to delta. 13. In combination, a synchronous motor designed for starting as an induction motor, and means for connecting portions of the armature winding in series and in arallel.

14. In combination, a three-p ase synchronous motor des' 'ed for starting as an induction motor, an means for connecting" portions of the armature in series and in arallel and in Y and in de ta.

15. combination, a multi-speed three-' phase motor, and means for connecting portions of the motor winding in series and in parallel and connecting the motor winding in Y and in delta.

16. In a synchronous machine for operation with ditferent pole numbers, an armature winding, afield winding, each winding having its conductors permanently connected in groups in which the current flow in all conductors of the group is in the same relative direction for all pole numbers of the motor, and means for varying the relative connections of the groups of both'windings' to the supply sources.

17. In a synchronous machine for operation with difi'erent pole'numbers, distributed windings on both members havingtheir conductors connected together in groups and provided with terminals, the conductors of said windings being so associated with each other and with said terminals that by changes of the coupling of said terminals the number of poles of the winding may be changed, and means for changing the coupling of the terminals of both members. 7

18. In a synchronous machine. for operation with diiI'erent pole numbers, distributed windings on both members consisting of coils having their conductors connected to form a plurality of groups permanently connected together, terminals located in said circuit at points between said groups, and means 'for changing the direction of current flow through said groups.

19. In combination, a synchronous motor, a source of alternating current connected to the armature, means for short-circuiting the field at starting, means for energizing the field at synchronism, and means for varying the armature connections at 'synchronism to increase the impressed voltage per coil.

20. In a multi-speed three-phase-motor,

an armature winding adapted to be connect-- tributed windings on each member, all the conductors of each winding being perma; nently connected in series, said windings being adapted to produce diiferent numbers of poles by a variation in the points of connection of said windings to the external circuits. 23. In combination, a multi-speed synadapted to produce different numbers of poles by variation in the relative connections of said coils to the external circuits, an alternating-current circuit connected to the armature winding and a direct-current circuit connected to the field winding.

26. A synchronous machine for operation with different pole numbers having a winding on each member adapted to produce different numbers of poles with different connections, means for varying the connections of both windings, an alternating-current circuit connected to the armature winding, and

a direct-current circuit connected to the field.

winding.

27. In a synchronous motor, a distributed winding, an auxiliary short-circuited wind- .ing on 'the field structure for starting, and

means';for closing the field circuit through a variable resistance to bring the motor approximately -to synchronism.

28. In a synchronous motor, distributed windings on both members, and an auxilia short-circuited winding on the field structure. a

29. In a multi-speed synchronous motor, distributed windings on both members, means for connecting both windings for different numbers of oles, and an auxilia short-circuited win ture.

30. In a synchronouamachine for operation with diiferent pole numbers, an armature winding, a field Winding, each winding having all its conductors in which the direction of current flow is the same for all pole numbers permanently connected in a'group,

and means 'of varying the relative connections of the groupsof both-windings to thesupply sources.

,In witness whereof I have hereuntoset my' I hand this 12th day of February, 1904.

"ERNST F. W. ALEXANDERSON.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL,

HELEN ,Onrorm. i 

